Minister Commits to Shorter Sassa Queues and R1.5 Billion in Savings -

The newly appointed Minister of Social Development, Dina Pule, has pledged to alleviate the lengthy queues at the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and intends to save the government R1.5 billion by halting payments to ineligible recipients.

Pule stated that the funds saved “can be redirected to support additional government projects and priorities.” During a briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday, she noted that this fiscal year, Sassa plans to evaluate 350,000 beneficiaries, an increase from the 240,000 reviewed last year.

At present, 19 million individuals receive grants, excluding the R370 Social Relief of Distress grant, she highlighted.

Last year, the National Treasury established stricter regulations for Sassa’s budget to ensure that grants are given only to qualified recipients.

“While we must ensure that vulnerable individuals are offered social protection, it is essential to confirm that all eligible persons receive the support they deserve. At the same time, we must protect public resources and maintain the integrity, sustainability, and fairness of the social assistance system,” Pule asserted.

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Sassa’s efforts to shorten queues and improve the grant payment process

Pule acknowledged the anxiety that the review process has caused among beneficiaries. However, she explained that the Social Assistance Act mandates Sassa to regularly review grants to ensure ongoing eligibility.

Beneficiaries must report any significant changes to their financial, medical, or marital situations.

“Regular reviews also help protect the system from fraud, abuse, and incorrect payments,” Pule emphasized.

Sassa CEO Themba Matlou remarked that the reported incomes of beneficiaries are verified through banks, the South African Revenue Service, and credit bureaus.

Reducing queues

“During my initial days in office, I received numerous complaints about long queues at many of our offices. I had to act swiftly to understand the issues and find immediate solutions to restore dignity and respect,” Pule noted.

“We are hiring over 1,000 contract workers nationwide to provide additional support: assisting with beneficiary inquiries, processing applications and reviews, and reducing waiting times at service points.”

Pule indicated that Sassa office hours would be extended to better accommodate beneficiaries.

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Matlou noted that 127 contract workers have already been hired, with some actively working in Gauteng. The remaining workers are expected to commence on 1 August. The government has allocated R40 million for these appointments during the current fiscal year.

Pule asserted that she will visit Sassa offices across the nation to oversee these initiatives.

“These measures will help restore dignity and respect to those who depend on social assistance as their lifeline, and achieving this is non-negotiable.”